Chapter 22
twenty-two
“Sorry ‘bout that,” I say as I open the passenger door. “I had no idea we’d end up in the honeymoon cabin.”
“It’s fine. We’re both adults,” Sasha shrugs, tension obvious in the set of her shoulders as she gets in. “I mean, we can share a bed without it getting weird, right?”
“Right,” I agree, though my dick has other ideas. “Totally.”
This is the first time I’ve ever brought a woman to J & R. Not sure why that excites me so much, but it does.
“What are you grinning about?” Sasha asks, buckling her seatbelt.
“Nothing,” I lie, starting the engine. “Just excited to show you around.”
Driving away from the main house, I lead us deeper into the property until we round a bend and the cabin comes into view.
The Aspen is unlike any of the other’s on the property. Half traditional log, half modern yurt, it sits nestled close to a hillside with windows offering a panoramic view of the valley below.
The top half is fashioned out of canvas and wood, while the bottom is composed of rustic timber and stone. A wide deck wraps around its base, complete with a hot tub located on the far side.
Keeping that bit of information to myself for now, I pull up next to a golf cart parked out front and cut the engine. “This is us. Those are so guests can drive themselves around the ranch,” I explain, jerking my chin at the small vehicle. “We try to keep pollution to a minimum up here.”
We climb out of the truck and Sasha spins in a circle, taking it all in. “Wow. It’s so beautiful.”
“Wait till you see inside.”
Grabbing our bags, I head up the steps and unlock the door. Stepping back to let Sasha enter first, I watch her face as I follow her inside.
“Holy shit,” Sasha whispers, head tilted back in awe. “This is... incredible.”
The cabin is rustic luxury at its finest. The main living space is full open concept, with a small kitchen to the right, and a living room with a leather couch, two armchairs and a fireplace to the left.
Floor-to-ceiling windows line the curved walls, offering a panoramic view of the mountains and forest beyond.
But it’s the bedroom area that truly dominates the space. A massive king-size bed sits on a raised platform, draped with fresh white linens and fluffy duvet, flanked by two small nightstands.
“Other than the obvious, why does Meg call this the special cabin?”
“Let’s get situated, and I’ll show you.”
I carry our bags over to the bedroom, setting them down next to the dresser sitting a few feet away from the platform. Sasha follows, eyes fixed on the massive bed.
I watch her face, trying to read her expression as she takes it all in.
Clearing my throat, I do my best not to look too pleased about our unexpected living situation. “You gonna be okay with this? I can sleep on the couch.”
She shifts her gaze to look at me, a soft smile playing on her lips. “I’m not going to let you sleep on the couch. This is your sanctuary, Jax. The bed is big enough for both of us.”
My heart does a weird little skip. The last thing I expected was for her to be so cool about this, but hell if I’m going to question it.
“Alright then. Let me show you around.” I lead her over to the bathroom, which is just as impressive as the rest of the cabin.
The bathroom is spacious, and the walk-in shower is more than big enough for two people—which I’m trying very hard not to think about right now by the way. A large soaking tub sits under a wide expansive window, perfectly positioned to take in the mountain view.
“Shower’s in here. Shelves with extra towels here.”
“This is gorgeous,” she says, running her fingers along the edge of the marble countertop.
“Come on, there’s more.” I guide her back through the main living area to show her the kitchen. “Fridge is always stocked with the basics. There’s a coffee maker, tea kettle, and all that good stuff.” I point at the 80-inch flat screen hanging above the fireplace. “We even have Netflix.”
When I turn around, she’s looking at me, eyes sparkling, mouth curved in the sexiest smile I’ve ever seen. Suddenly nervous, I reach up to grip the back of my neck.
“Um… Okay. Let me show you what’s so special about this cabin.”
Excited for this part of the tour, I flash her a grin and walk over to a control panel on the wall next to the fireplace. I press a button, and there’s a click followed by a low mechanical hum from above.
Sasha’s eyes drift upward, jaw dropping as the ceiling begins to retract, sliding open to reveal the clear blue sky. The entire yurt-like top opens up, leaving us standing in what now feels like a luxurious open-air room.
“Oh. My. God,” she breathes.
“So we can see the stars at night,” I explain, unable to tear my eyes away from the look on her face. “There’s a meteor shower tonight, so we can put it to good use. If you want.”
She turns to look at me, eyes bright. “Are you serious? This has to be the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!”
“I figured you’d like it,” I chuckle, feeling a surge of satisfaction at her reaction. “It’s pretty spectacular when it gets dark. The stars up here are like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Even better than what you can see from Lakeside.”
“I can imagine.” She walks further into the center of the room, head tilted back, staring up at the sky.
I press the button again, and the ceiling slides back into place. “There’re also switches on either side of the bed,” I tell her. “So you can activate it without having to get up.”
She turns to me with a playful smile. “I take it you’ve stayed in this cabin before?”
“Once or twice,” I admit with a shrug. “Usually when I need some time to think.” I skip the fact that I’ve never shared this cabin with anyone else. Feels like too much, too soon. If she’s not worried about it, neither am I.
“Cool,” she says, her voice soft.
“Well. We’ve got the rest of the day ahead of us.” I check my watch. “If you want to tour the property and see the horses before dinner, we should probably head out. Unless you’re tired and want to take a nap?”
Her eyes light up. “No! I’m not tired at all. Just let me freshen up a bit.”
While Sasha disappears into the bathroom, I take a moment to collect myself. Sharing this cabin with her—a place that means so much to me—makes me nervous. I’ve spent months pining (Ryder’s words, not mine) over her, and finally having her all to myself feels a little overwhelming.
But seeing her face as the ceiling opened up? Totally worth it.
A few minutes later, she emerges from the bathroom. “Ready when you are.”
Opening the door, I gesture with a wide sweep of my hand. “After you, sweet cheeks.”
Even though the paths are well maintained and kept pretty smooth, the golf cart still bounces a little. It’s making Sasha’s breasts jiggle, and I have to force myself look away before my dick thickens.
The path curves as we make our way across the property, and I point out the various cabins nestled among the trees. “Those are for the guests.” I gesture at a cluster of cabins in a clearing. “Each one is named after a different type of tree. Pine, Oak, Cedar... you get the idea.”
As we bump along, I can’t help but sneak sidelong glances. Hair shining like fire in the sun, Sasha’s full lips tilt in a half-smile as we bounce along.
“Those are the family cabins.” I slow the golf cart so she can get a better look. “That’s where the kids and their families stay when they come for therapy sessions.”
“How many people can stay here at a time?” she asks, gripping the side of the cart as we hit a particularly rough patch. I make a mental note to get that fixed.
“About thirty, give or take? The cabins can house two to four people each, and there are ten of them, plus the staff quarters,” I say, turning a corner.
“We’ve got a small cafeteria over there,” I point to a wide, square, single-story building with picnic tables sitting out front.
“Nothing fancy, but the food’s good. Meg helps oversee some of the meals. ”
“It’s so peaceful here,” she says, eyes shining as she looks around. “I can see why you love it.”
As we crest a small hill, the main barn comes into full view.
It’s a massive red structure with white trim.
I’ve spent countless hours under its metal roof.
The weathered boards have withstood decades of harsh winters and scorching summers.
The double doors are wide open at the top, revealing the shadowy interior where hay bales are stored.
I park the golf cart near the entrance. The stable is a long, low-slung building with individual stalls lining both sides of a wide, center aisle each one housing one of our therapy horses.
“Come on.” Resting my hand at the small of her back, I guide her forward. “I want you to meet some friends of mine.”
She doesn’t flinch when I touch her, and I give myself a mental fist bump.
“This is where we hold most of our therapy sessions,” I explain as we walk inside. “On this side of the barn, there are indoor riding areas, tack rooms, and offices for the counselors.”
Sunlight streams through the windows, casting golden beams across the hay-strewn floor. Sweet hay, leather, and the earthy musk of horses hit my nose right off the bat. It’s a combination of scents that always centers me, grounding me in the present, bringing me peace.
As we walk down the aisle, curious equine faces poke out of their stalls. I introduce them one by one, watching Sasha’s face transform with each new introduction. Her eyes light up, her smile wide as she approaches each horse with gentle confidence.
“This is Maverick.” I stop at a stall housing a dapple-gray gelding. “He’s one of our gentlest.”
Sasha approaches the stall, and Maverick immediately stretches his neck out in greeting. With no hesitation, she reaches up and lets him sniff her palm before gently stroking his velvety nose.
“Hey there, handsome,” she coos as the horse’s eyes half-close in pleasure. “Aren’t you just the sweetest thing?”
Well, shit. Never in my life did I ever think I’d be jealous of a horse.
Mentally shaking my head at the irrationality of it all, I stand back, mesmerized by the way she’s interacting with Maverick. Just the thought of the natural way she connected with him makes my chest tighten.
“He likes you,” I murmur. When I move in close, my arm brushes hers, and I catch a whiff of her clean, flowery scent. Fuck. The urge to manhandle her, shove her up against the wall and just take, hits me like a mac truck.
“I like him too.” She laughs as he nudges at her, searching for treats. “Sorry, buddy. I didn’t bring you anything.”
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out a couple of sugar cubes. “Here. I grabbed a few of these just in case.”
“Awesome. Thanks.”
She takes the sugar, fingers brushing against my palm, sending a jolt of electricity up my arm.
Our eyes flick up to meet for a beat before she turns to hold her hand out to the horse.